Examiners are facing a new challenge as students increasingly use smart glasses to cheat on A-level and GCSE exams,according to regulators. The threat of computerised spectacles to boost scores in these exams should not be underestimated, examinations watchdog Ofqual warned.

The $30 million smart glasses market

Smart glasses, featuring cameras, headphones, and lenses acting as a computer screen display, are already on the commercial market. These devices are almost undetectable from regular ones, making them a significant threat to exam integrity. The market for smart glasses is estimated to be worth $30 million, with many students likely to be tempted to use them to gain an unfair advantage.

2,225 malpractice cases in 2025

Ofqual data shows that mobile phone and smart device offences accounted for 2,225 malpractice cases in exams last summer. This represented 44.3 per cent of all student malpractice, up from 41 per cent in 2024. It has been the most common category of student cheating every summer since 2018.

Who is the unnamed buyer?

The unnamed buyer of smart glasses, who is likely to be a student, is a significant concern for exam regulators. The buyer may be using the device to cheat on exams, and it is unclear how many other students may be using similar devices.

A familiar pattern from the 2019 crash

The use of smart glasses to cheat on exams is a familiar pattern from the 2019 crash , where students used mobile phones to cheat on exams. Regulators must now be vigilant in preventing the use of smart glasses to cheat on exams.

Broader context

The use of smart glasses to cheat on exams is part of a broader trend of students using technology to gain an unfair advantage.. Regulators must now be proactive in preventing the use of smart glasses and other devices to cheat on exams.

Open questions

There are several open questions surrounding the use of smart glasses to cheat on exams. Who is the unnamed buyer of smart glasses? How many other students may be using similar devices? What measures can regulators take to prevent the use of smart glasses to cheat on exams?